About Us
Our identity speaks to our history, and looks to the future
Our story, name and visual identity guides our approach to the way we do business, care for our environment, and connect with our partners and communities.
Our Story
The origins of Manawa Energy go back to the early 20th century, when water from the Ōmanawa River in the Bay of Plenty was first used for hydro-electric power generation. The establishment of the Tauranga Electric Power Board followed in 1923, eventually evolving to become Trustpower in 1994.
As Trustpower, we pioneered the development of wind generation in Aotearoa New Zealand, building the Tararua (Manawatū) and Mahinerangi (Otago) wind farms here, and Snowtown 1 and Snowtown 2 across the Tasman in South Australia. That pioneering spirit powered us forward again in 2022 when we sold our consumer-facing retail business to focus on meeting the needs of a rapidly electrifying economy.
On 1 May 2022 we adopted our new name, and began a new chapter as Manawa Energy. We utilise the power of nature to provide renewable energy to our customers and the country. We also play an important role in helping Aotearoa New Zealand achieve ambitious decarbonisation goals through our existing hydro stations and by developing new generation. We aspire to be Aotearoa New Zealand’s fastest-growing energy company.
But we also recognise the importance of taking care of the natural resources and the communities on which we rely. We aim to create value alongside our partners, our communities, our customers, our investors, and our people.
Our Name
Manawa means ‘heart’ and it speaks to the heart of our operations in the Bay of Plenty, from where we connect with communities across Aotearoa New Zealand, through our generation assets.
Our name was gifted by, and acknowledges our shared whakapapa with, Ngāti Hangarau hapū in the Kaimai area. It traces our company origins back to the first hydro-electric power station on the Ōmanawa River.
We put our heart into everything we do. Whether that is partnering with iwi as kaitiaki of the natural resources on which we rely, working for the good of the communities we are part of, or doing our part to create a sustainable future for Aotearoa New Zealand through renewable energy generation.
Our name also speaks to the heart of our business being people; the people who work for us, the people we partner with, mana whenua, and customers. It recognises present, past, and future relationships between people, environments, and values.
Koro Nicholas (Ngāti Hangarau) and David Prentice (foundation chief executive of Manawa Energy), in 2022.
Our Visual Identity
Our logo
Manawa means ‘heart’ in te reo Māori, and our logo is is a visual interpretation of Manawa Energy’s ‘heartbeat’
Soundscape imagery
Ngāti Hangarau have a tradition of listening to the sound of waterfalls in their rohe (tribal area) for guidance on decision-making and the future. This inspired the creation of natural resource soundscapes, representing Manawa Energy’s role as kaitiaki of the natural resources we utilise to create energy, and the importance of listening to our natural environment to guide our decision-making.
Our soundscape is a visual representation of the sound of Ōmanawa Falls in the Bay of Plenty, visually capturing the intensity of the cascading waterfall and the calming flow of the connected river. When heard from a distance, sound of water flowing over the falls is traditionally interpreted as a sign of prosperity and good fortune for Ngāti Hangarau.